Rayaraddi becoming a Minister after 15 years

Basavaraj Rayaraddi, a five-time MLA from Yelburga, and MP for a term (1996-98) representing Koppal, is getting a ministerial berth after a gap of about 15 years.

Mr. Rayaraddi replaces Shivaraj Tangadagi, Minister of State for Minor Irrigation and district in-charge.
Earlier, he served as a Minister for Housing and Urban Development during the Janata Dal regime for a short stint before he contested the Lok Sabha elections from Koppal in 1996.

Mr. Rayaraddi is known as a straight forward person, who does his homework well and comes well prepared to attend meetings.

With his vast experience as an MLA, MP, and as a Special Representative of the State in New Delhi, people of the district have high hopes that Mr. Rayaraddi will evince keen interest in the overall development of the district. He told The Hindu over phone from Bengaluru that he would strive for the all-round development of the district as the district in-charge Minister.

The supporters of Mr. Tangadagi staged a demonstration on Sunday and a man tried to immolate himself to protest against dropping his leader. The police personnel took him away.

He served as a Minister for Housing and Urban Development in the Janata Dal govt.